Glockenspiel, Metallophone & Xylophone for Kids: the Orff Instruments Compared
Glockenspiel, metallophone and xylophone look alike but are three different instruments. Which Orff barred instrument suits preschool, school or home.
Sound & Context
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Sansula: the floating kalimba on a drumhead
What sets the sansula apart from an ordinary kalimba — mounted on a drum frame, floating sound, the wah effect and who the instrument is for.
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Baritone & bass ukulele: tuned lower, and when they make sense
The large ukuleles tuned lower: baritone in DGBE like a guitar's top four strings, bass ukulele in EADG as a compact bass substitute. When the big format is worth it.
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Wooden Recorders for Advanced Players: Mollenhauer, Moeck & Küng
After the plastic school recorder comes the move to wood. What sets the Mollenhauer, Moeck and Küng workshops apart, how each wood sounds, and what matters for care and ranges.
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Alto recorder: the next step after the soprano recorder
Why so many players move from the soprano to the alto recorder – and what to know about the key of F, fingering and material.
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Hohner Harmonica: Marine Band, Special 20 and Golden Melody Compared
Marine Band, Special 20 or Golden Melody? We compare Hohner's classic diatonic blues harps – material, tuning, comfort – and tell you which model fits which player.
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Chromatic Harmonica: The Slide, Playing and Which to Buy
How the slide works, what 12 vs 16 holes mean and which chromatic harmonica fits your playing - from the compact entry model to the Super 64.
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Trombone for Beginners: Choosing the Right Slide Trombone
Buying your first trombone: why the Bb slide trombone is the standard starter, whether to get an F valve, which bore – with models and a comparison table.
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Buying a Clarinet: Boehm or German System for Beginners
Before buying a clarinet, one question comes first: Boehm or German system? We explain the fingering, the sound and who each system suits best.
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Buying a Tenor Saxophone: the Warmer Sax Sound
The tenor saxophone sounds warmer and deeper than the alto – ideal for jazz, rock and funk. We explain the difference and show the right models to start on.
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Guitalele: when the guitar meets the ukulele
Six strings, ukulele size, guitar chords: the guitalele brings the feel of a guitar in a travel format. Tuning, the capo trick and who it's for.
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Yamaha Acoustic Guitar: The FG and FS Series as a Reliable Start
The Yamaha FG and FS series have been reliable, affordable steel-string acoustics for decades. We explain the difference between the larger FG dreadnought and the more compact FS concert body,...
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Classical Guitar for Kids: the Right Size by Age
Which classical guitar size fits which age? A size chart by age and height, scale length explained and beginner models to choose for the new school year.
